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Palestinian hunger strike reaches 100 days

Sarsak and Rikhawi are on hunger strike to protest against Israeli prison conditions and administrative detention (SAID KHATIB/AFP/Getty)

A PRISONER on hunger strike in Israel has refused food for more than 100 days,
making his the longest running hunger strike in history, say Palestinian
officials.

Akram Rikhawi, 39, is serving a nine-year sentence for transporting suicide
bombers and now seeks early release for his medical ailments, which are said
to include diabetes and asthma.

Anat Litvin of Physicians for Human Rights-Israel said that Rikhawi should be
refered to a lung specialist and a neurologist as a matter of urgency. But
the Israel's prison service have reportedly said Rikhawi is receiving proper
care in prison.

Rikhawi began fasting on April 12, preceding a mass strike of 1,200 other
prisoners, who refused food to demand better conditions. They ended their
protests after winning some concessions.

Five other Palestinians in Israeli jails are still on hunger-strike, the
Palestinian prisoners’ society said.